April 14, 2014 – The U.S. Department of
Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration
today announced the completion of a nationwide
infrastructure upgrade that will enable air
traffic controllers to track aircraft with
greater accuracy and reliability, while giving
pilots more information in the cockpit. This
upgrade is a key improvement in the Next
Generation Air Transportation System.

“This upgrade is an important step in laying the
foundation for the NextGen system, which
provides controllers a much more precise view of
the airspace, gives pilots much more awareness
and information, and as a result strengthens the
safety and efficiency of our system,” said U.S.
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “This
state-of-the-art satellite system is already
providing controllers with visibility in places
not previously covered by radar.”

The nationwide installation of the Automatic
Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) radio
network supports a satellite-based surveillance
system that tracks aircraft with the help of
GPS. This provides more accurate aircraft
location information than the current radar
system.

NextGen refers to a set of initiatives being
implemented by the FAA in collaboration with the
aviation community to ensure that the United
States has the safest, most efficient airspace
possible for decades to come. In addition to
ADS-B, NextGen improvements are already
delivering benefits that include more efficient
air traffic procedures that save time and fuel
and reduce emissions.

“The installation of this radio network clears
the way for air traffic controllers to begin
using ADS-B to separate equipped aircraft
nationwide,” FAA Administrator Michael Huerta
said. “It will also provide pilots flying
aircraft equipped with the proper avionics with
traffic information, weather data and other
flight information.”

Of
the 230 air traffic facilities across the country, 100
are currently using this system to separate traffic. It
is expected to be connected and operating at all 230
facilities by 2019. All aircraft operating in controlled
airspace must be equipped with ADS-B Out avionics that
broadcast the plane’s location, by Jan. 1, 2020.

With the upgraded surveillance and broadcast system and
aircraft equipped with ADS-B Out transponders, aircraft
positions on controller screens update almost
continuously, compared to every 4.7 seconds or longer
with radar.

ADS-B also enables more accurate tracking of airplanes
and airport vehicles on runways and taxiways, increasing
safety and efficiency. The new system significantly
improves surveillance capability in areas with
geographic challenges like mountains or over water.
Airplanes equipped with ADS-B In, which is not currently
mandated, will give pilots information through cockpit
displays about location in relation to other aircraft,
bad weather and terrain, and temporary flight
restrictions.

In addition to the operational benefits of ADS-B,
each one of the 634 ground stations installed by
Exelis of McLean, Va., is substantially smaller than
a radar installation – resulting in less impact to
the environment and less cost to maintain.